title: Relaxation and guided imagery used with 12-year-olds during venipuncture in a school-based screening study.
abstract: Needle-related procedures are reported to be problematic for children. In a school-based celiac disease screening, 12-year-olds' experiences with relaxation and guided imagery (R-GI) during venipuncture were investigated. One group tried nurse-led R-GI (n = 60) and another group received standard care (SC; n = 49). A mixed method design was applied using short written narratives, facial affective scale (FAS), and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain intensity. Qualitative content analysis highlighted that diversity and contradictions when facing blood tests. FAS scores were significantly lower in the SC group before (p = 0.01), during (p = 0.01), and after (p = 0.01) venipuncture. VAS scores did not differ between the groups. The blood test was mostly experienced as unproblematic, and GI during venipuncture did not decrease pain or affect. However, the fact that a number of children scored high FAS indicates a need for effective methods to help children cope with needle-related school-based procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Social Sciences, Caring Sciences, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden mfr@du.se.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forsner
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Social Sciences, Caring Sciences, Dalarna University, Falun, SwedenDepartment of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, SwedenDepartment of Nursing, Umeå University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Fredrik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Norström
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Social Sciences, Caring Sciences, Dalarna University, Falun, SwedenDepartment of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, SwedenDepartment of Nursing, Umeå University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nordyke
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anneli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ivarsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Viveca
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lindh
mesh_terms: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012063:Relaxation
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local
keywords: Intervention; narrative; pain; procedural pain; school health